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Bible Based Giving

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Bible based giving should be easy to teach - why is there often resistance?


Grape vines don't groan while producing grapes -- giving fruit comes naturally from healthy vines rooted in good soil. If you don't enjoy giving, move to a more natural vineyard.

Let's take a moment and make simple the tangled wording about biblical giving. Some of the phrases we can condense with one piece of Bible based advise: tithes, offerings, stewardship gifts, faith promise, planned giving, church legacy gifts, building fund gifts, Spirit led giving, and joyful giving. The last one is the key, the sum of biblical giving advice.

God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

Tough Love and Cheerful Giving

can these two go together?

Bible based giving can sadly be a touchy subject; easy to approach, difficult to escape, and with easily misunderstood intentions.

Perhaps that is why so few sermons about giving are preached; in many churches just once a year on Stewardship Sunday.

To raise money for a church only on "stewardship Sunday" seems a bit restrained. It is just too easy to upset people when talking about money. It is also too easy to emphasize obligation and emotions such as guilt when such messages are given.

To further confuse the issue; perhaps you are supposed to give nothing. A gift for the wrong reasons, to the wrong recipient, or at the wrong time; could be harmful.

As a Christian what you really want to know is how much to give, if any; and where to give it. The first answer is: if you already have a leading of God to give, and you can do it cheerfully, than give. Jesus has already proven you can't out give God.

The tithe is a simple answer to: "How much giving is enough?" A tithe sets limits on required giving, and giving requests on stewardship Sunday. A Tither will not be judged by men as miserly. You will also miss an opportunity to regularly grow your relationship with God, listening for his voice, conversing with him.

From those conversations, great works can emerge.

Back to the Biblical Giving Bible Study:

The first step of giving is to realize there is more then just one type of tithe, and there are many types of offerings. The second step is deciding where to begin.

God said to the delivered "For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices; but this thing I commanded them saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you." Jeremiah 7: 22,23

We now, due to our acceptance of the cleansing sacrifice of Christ, have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. With this access we can seek God's will concerning all areas of our life, including financial.

How and where to tithe or offer gifts unto God? We must ask him, our obedience to his will confirms that we are his people -- and it will be well with us.

Your relationship with God is personal



Keep your giving personal too.

Give cheerfully as God directs. Pay no attention to social and emotional pressures.


How do you learn to hear God's voice?

But what of those ministries that say they will close their doors without more funds? If God wants them to stand - they will stand. If not, let them fall.


George Muller is a great study in prayer and faith. He followed God and always seemed to be on the edge. God always delivered. Supporting thousands of orphans and supplying international ministries, he did it all by believing God, telling no one but God of the orphanage's needs.

God provided by directing obedient believers, and by changing circumstances - he still does both today.

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. - Luke 12: 6,7


From George Muller: Man of Faith and Miracles:

Reverend Muller undertook nothing, even the smallest expenditure, unless he felt it was the will of God. He was asked how he sought the will of God. This is his reply:

1. "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impressions. If so, I make my self liable to great delusions.

3. I seek the will of the Spirit of God through or in connection with the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay my self open to great delusions also.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

6. Thus through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and it continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly."

Mr. Muller was asked how well this worked.

"I never remember", he wrote in 1895, three years before his death at the age of 93, "in all my Christian course, a period now of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have always been directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or I did not patiently wait upon the Lord for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellow men to the declarations of the Word of the living God, I made great mistakes."


Read any of George Muller's books, they will help you see what is possible in Christ Jesus.

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We can learn many lessons from great men of faith.

Here I have highlighted just one, George Muller.

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Some direct Bible study is your first task.

We learn to hear and recognize God's voice by spending time in his word.

Read all of I Corinthians chapter 9. Paul shows that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

Notice he does not mention a tithe. Notice he states he has not accepted any gifts lest he create a hindrance to the spread of the gospel.

As Christ said in Luke 10:5 "And into whatsoever house you enter, first say, peace be to this house." and then in Luke 10:7, "And in The same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire."

If you read the whole chapter in Luke you will see there is no reference to a tithe, just such food as those in the house are willing to give.

There is also no talk of supporting many fancy buildings, ministry was done in people's homes. A simple church structure that would not have to go to secular sources to borrow money.

Read also all of IICorinthians chapter 9. We will start about half way through and read verses 6 and 7 "He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

No tithe mentioned.

Stressed instead was the admonition to give only if you can give cheerfully. If you are not filled with God's Joy and finding pleasure in his company, then don't give. Seek God and get in fellowship with him first.

Giving is fruit that will come from a healthy vine rooted in good soil.

The final step is to realize; "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Are you brilliant, talented, wealthy, consistent, flexible, or strong? What can you share cheerfully at God's direction? Are you weak, slow, ignorant, and poor - let God show his strength by working through you.

What are your attributes? You have much, seek where God will use you much, that it may be well with you.

Questions, testimonials, and sharing of your Biblical views are wanted.


Leave a note so others might learn.

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  • Reply
    favored1 Nov 12, 2011 @ 12:48 pm | delete
    Giving of your assets and of yourself to God open's doors for His hand to work. Thanks for the lens.
  • Reply
    yourgoldenfuture Apr 25, 2011 @ 3:39 am | delete
    Its a simple thing basically - but people discuss and argue - not to do what they need to...
    The question is not what you need to give..its the question on what you are allowed to keep for yourselves...if you are a follower of Christ ALL belongs to HIM...100% and thats it...no discussion needed about the tenth before taxes or after taxes...thats the radical teaching of the first church and the power of that age... religious people changed that
  • Reply
    Chinajoy Dec 23, 2010 @ 2:48 am | delete
    This seems to be a hard subject to teach on the mission field too.
  • Reply
    Karen Collins Aug 3, 2010 @ 10:32 am | delete
    Great lens! 5***** Thanks for your efforts and research to inspire us in our biblical giving.
  • Reply
    younite17 Jun 3, 2010 @ 3:37 pm | delete
    really well written article, we just started attending workshops put on by Mission Increase who focuses on how to do Biblical fundraising for nonprofits, and there are a lot of parrallels to your article. Thanks for the helpful info.
  • Reply
    d-artist May 18, 2010 @ 8:01 pm | delete
    What a wonderful lens! this so well written with so much meaning...I Live to Glorify God...I always remind myself that God does not accept giving unless it comes from the heart...and He knows your heart.......a ~" Squid Angel Blessing"~
  • Reply
    dustytoes May 6, 2010 @ 7:21 pm | delete
    I agree. You are right that we must get right with God and he will direct us. Everyone, rich or poor can give in some way when we see the direction Gods points us in. I enjoyed your lens.
  • Reply
    JoanneOtt Apr 25, 2010 @ 1:54 am | delete
    You said that we can't outgive God. How true this is. Great lens and topic.
  • Reply
    JaguarJulie Jan 4, 2010 @ 7:09 am | delete
    I must admit Allan that because of my Catholic upbringing and attending many a bible class in the summer with my play-friends that, "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter..." I'm always working hard at having an open and receptive mind and will. Thank you for all of your remarkable contributions. I feel blessed to have gotten to know you. My heart is full.
  • Reply
    Marsha Aug 21, 2009 @ 11:10 pm | delete
    I thought it was great that you quoted George Mueller in several places, and then showed the books available, still. I used to own a copy of delighted in God. Great book, great goals.

    Once I open my account, I'll probably stop back again.
  • Reply
    amandascloset0 Jan 8, 2009 @ 2:53 pm | delete
    What a wonderful lens this is! Thank you for posting it! I've very much enjoyed every one of your lenses that I've read. Fan'd, fav'd and 5 stars of course!
  • Reply
    flowergardener Jul 28, 2008 @ 9:47 pm | delete
    Oh thank you very much for making this lens! I think it's absolutely wonderful that you showed the facts of the tithe, and having church at home! Gods Love and mine, Deb
  • Reply
    happynutritionist Jul 27, 2008 @ 9:30 pm | delete
    Thank you for visiting my Corrie Ten Boom Squid and for your comment. I was attracted to this out of you many "Squids", our pastor always reminds us that giving is a form of worship...I am learning to give joyfully! It is so important to be in a place where you know you can trust that what is being given is used as God would want it to be. Happy Squidooing, and God bless!
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Need some more depth and breadth in understanding?

Not To Please Men - Nor To Please Myself - But To Please God


God doesn't need our money - our need is to honor him with obedience. Our obedience in all things is pleasing to God.

If you can't give cheerfully - don't give!
Get right with God first.

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When the solution is simple, God is answering.
Albert Einstein


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BFuniv.com

Allan R. Wallace Trains VisionariesAllan is Rector of Bastiat Free University, Rector Emeritus of Junior Partner Ministries, and director of development... more »

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